Title: FRIDGE Food-Related Intergenerational Discussion Group Experiences Food, Family and Fellowship
1FRIDGE Food-Related Intergenerational
Discussion Group Experiences Food, Family and
Fellowship
- Frances Alloway M.A., R.D., L.D.N.
- Penn State Cooperative Extension
- Generations United International Conference
- July 29, 2009
-
2Penn State University
Philadelphia
3Focus Group Purpose
- 3 Focus groups in various counties to determine
how family members from different generations
discuss food and healthy eating issues. - Assess members interest in
- participating in a multi-generational program.
4Results of Focus Group
- Participants understand but do not apply
nutritional knowledge. - Poor family communication stood as a barrier for
achieving healthy eating goals. - Participants indicated a desire for a program
that would encourage better family communication
about food.
5Participants recommendations for future
nutrition education programs
- Include fun, hands on activities such as
preparing various foods and games - Include methods that stimulates sharing between
participants - Include regular meetings, ideally twice a week
- Interest in multifamily, multigenerational
6 FRIDGE the Curriculum
FRIDGE was developed in 2007 by a diverse team of
individuals with skills in the areas of nutrition
education, family intervention programs, human
development, and program evaluation. Team members
included Matt Kaplan, Fran Alloway, Nancy Crago,
Flavia Herzog, Lynn James, Nancy Kiernan, Wendy
Middlemiss, Tanya Nolte, and Laurie
Weinreb-Welch.
- Developed in 2007 by a PSU team with skills in
- - Nutrition Education
- - Family Intervention
- - Human Development
- - Program Evaluation
- - Multigenerational Programming
7FRIDGE Objectives
- Help families communicate effectively and in a
positive manner. - Provide nutrition education to reach out to the
entire family. - Work as partners to achieve their healthy eating
goals
8Pilot Study Related Methods
- Piloted at 5 sites throughout Pennsylvania
- Program facilitated by nutrition educators and
program coordinators. - 23 families participated.
- Total of 46 individuals
- 23 Children
- 23 Adults
9Pilot Overview
- Each program involved 4-8 families.
- Each family was represented by two or more
generations (children of ages 11-14 and their
parents/ grandparents/ other caregivers). - Program was run in 3 half-day segments or as a
1½ day program.
10Characteristics of FRIDGE
- The curriculum has three sections
- Enhancing family communication about food.
- Learning together about food and nutrition
- Working as a team to improve family eating
practices
11Ice Breakers and Takes Outs
- Ice Breakers
- Help participants ease into program.
- Encourage openness and sharing between family
members and other families. - Promote full participation.
- Take Outs
- Reinforce lessons at home
- Apply skills learned in class
12Section 1 Enhancing Family Communication about
Food
- Activities
- Icebreaker Food Becomes You
- The Think You Know Me? game (similar to the
Newlywed Game) - RECIPE for Good Communication
- Coolish or Foolish talking about peer pressure
and food choices.
13Section 2 Learning Together about Food and
Nutrition
- Activities
- Icebreaker Two Truths and a Could Be
- Dietary Knowledge Timeline
- Back to the Future Food Time Capsule.
- Baking Now and Then
- Internet Recipe Scavenger Hunt optional
- Take out Activity The Family Meeting
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15Section 3 Working as a team to improve family
eating practices
- Activities
- The Family Food Puzzle
- Making Decisions About Food From Me to We
- Dinnertime poem What Does it Mean to Eat
Together? - Out with the Unhealthy and In with the Healthy
- Take Out activity A Family Food Contract
16Dinnertime poem What Does it Mean to Eat
Together?
17Adult Results of Pilot Study
Frequency of healthy eating behaviors (e.g.,
daily fruits and vegetables). Ability to explain
changes in food guidance system. of family
members who help prepare grocery list. of
family members who help with meal planning.
18Youth Results of Pilot Study
Frequency of trying new fruits and
vegetables. Ability to explain changes in food
guidance system. of family members who helped
prepare the grocery list. Youth involvement in
food purchases decisions. Youth involvement in
deciding how the family eats.
Question was about who has the most say in
making food-related decisions. Response options
1Children with little listening (to parents), 2
Children with some listening (to parents),
3children and parents together, 4parents with
some listening (to children), 5-parents with
little listening (to children).
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22Conclusion
- Adults and children enjoyed discussing food.
- Both generations reported improved eating
practices. - Increased communication led to greater family
participation in food purchases and meal
planning.
23Questions and Comments?
24The Penn State Intergenerational Program
http//intergenerational.cas.psu.edu
The Penn State Intergenerational Program, rooted
in Penn State Cooperative Extension, provides
leadership and resource support for organizations
interested in developing intergenerational
programs and activities that enrich peoples
lives and help address vital social and community
issues. Ordering information for FRIDGE
http//intergenerational.cas.psu.edu/FRIDGE.html